‘I’m here.’
With an unsuccessful heave, May pushes herself just barely off the grass and, as she slumps back against one of the medics, I cradle her head in my arms. ‘Whoa, hang on. You’re concussed. Give yourself a minute.’
Shit. The entire team’s around us, more staff. May’s out of it, and even in this situation, we have face to save. The dumb lie has to live.Dote, damn it, Colt!
Fortunately, even post-concussion, May’s intuition beats mine. She gives my hand a squeeze, as if to nag me,Play the role, dude.
As much as it’s in keeping with the role, it doesn’t feel like one when I reach down and sweep a strand of her hair off her cheek, tucking it behind her ear and into her headband. ‘You’re gonna be just fine,’ I whisper.
‘That was a smart move.’
May holds an ice pack to her head, legs dangling over the side of the PT table as she winces. ‘The run onto the field.’
Post-game, it was straight to the tent for May, even though she was able to get up on her feet. The Riders ended the game with a draw against the Marauders, and May learned she would be out for two weeks, at the least, and in for the six-step concussion protocol.
From the pained look on May’s face now, it’s clear to see she’s not happy about it. But there’s another expression, perhaps a hint of curiosity, that dances across her face. It could also just be the concussion. Or simply the fact that I’ve never been great at reading emotions.
She uncaps an electrolyte drink and takes a long swig. ‘It was admirable. Definitely helped our case. I mean, I ate shit, but at least we got something out of it. You didn’t have to do that, though,’ she adds quickly.
A twinge of nerves, the most emotion she’s shown openly, flashes across her face and then disappears, and she’s back to her straight-faced, nonchalant usual. She’s a little too good at this.
‘I know.’ I lean back against the doorframe and watch as her eyes search me for some sort of tell. ‘It’s just …’
Honestly, where do I start? That I believed I could undo all the mistakes I had made, that I understand all the ways I went wrong when I could’ve had something with this phenomenal girl? I believed that yes, she was gonna be just fine, but also, that there was some kind of hope thatwewould be just fine some day?
But the second we got off the field, I realized just how dumb I was to so much as entertain the thought. Like May had said a month back, no one asks to have their heart backed up over again after somebody’s already flattened it.
‘It was the right thing to do,’ I finally finish, and the weight in my stomach is as dense as lead. ‘It’s what everyone expected, right? Just keeping up appearances.’
Chapter Fourteen
Out of Hiding
May
My mom charges into the PT room like a hurricane of a woman, bringing her very full clear stadium bag and my dad with her. She swoops in so abruptly that my team, all of whom have now gathered alongside a ridiculously awkward Colt and a quite relieved Coach, have little time to react to her arrival.
‘It’s just a concussion …’ I’m literally in the midst of assuring my teammates when she gasps loudly at the sight of me.
‘May!’ Clucking her tongue, Mumma rushes up to me and tilts my head every which way, groaning unhappily when her fingers run over the bump. ‘May, what’s this? Why don’t y’all wear helmets?’
‘We’re not supposed to whack each other over the head,’ I grumble. ‘The other girl got a massive penalty for it.’
‘Butourgirl is the one we care about.’ She sighs, clearly unhappy. Mumma always thought I’d follow her into dance, her high-schoolsport, and I think she was glad that I first befriended Jordan, who’d been a dancer from a young age, hoping some of it would rub off on me. Instead, we had only strengthened our allegiance to lacrosse, and although I know Mumma is proud of me, I’m sure every game we play creates a marked increase in her blood pressure.
Papa clears his throat. ‘We’re just glad you’re okay,mija. You gave us a scare. And we’re glad we could count on Colt to be there for you.’ He throws a proud-dad smile Colt’s way – interesting. As concussed as I am, I recall immediately that even our parents are living in the lie. The stern nudge that Jordan gives Colt doesn’t escape my notice.
‘Absolutely – um, absolutely,’ Colt finally replies, returning the proud-dad smile with a wobbly little one of his own. ‘Nowhere I’d rather be than by her side. I’m as relieved as you are.’
Oh, sothat’seasy for him to say.
I beam up at Colt, the most plastic grin I have. ‘It’s once in a blue moon that you’ll get a boyfriend who’ll run onto the field for you.’ Then I turn to my mom, and with a raise of an eyebrow, ‘See? I’m all good. Colt will be the first one on the scene if anything happens.’
Mumma doesn’t look persuaded, but nods anyway. She exchanges a look with Papa that I don’t particularly love, and as much as I can feel her next words coming, they still strike terror straight through my chest when she speaks.
‘Colt, we really do appreciate you. I’m not sure what we can say or do to thank you. Especially considering you’ve been so close with May so early on. It’s so wonderful to see things are finally … coming together,’ she tells him. ‘And really, do drop by our home when you get the chance. We’d love to have you for dinner sometime. Just as a thank you.’
I ammortifiedon the inside.
